Tobacco moistening method and apparatus therefor

ABSTRACT

A process and the apparatus for moistening a body of tobacco with at least one elongated cavity, the elongated wall of which is unsupported, by placing the body of tobacco in an enclosed chamber, providing suction and steam to the chamber one of which is applied to at least one end of the cavity, and maintaining the suction and steam until the body of tobacco has received a predetermined sufficient quantity of moisture from the steam.

United States Patent Neville et al. Nov. 4, 1975 TOBACCO MOISTENING METHOD AND 2,864,381 12/1958 Rowell 131/140 A APPARATUS THEREFOR 3,262,458 7/1966 Lindstrom 131/133 A [75] Inventors: Richard E. G. Neville, Salisbury; FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Garrett Andover, both of 487,602 3/1970 Switzerland 131/143 England [73] Assignee: AMF Incorporated, White Plains, Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell N.Y. Assistant Examiner-V. Millin [22] Filed: Jan. 31 1973 agar/gay, Agent, or Fzrm-George W. Price; Charles J. [21] Appl. No.: 328,486

[57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Apphcamm Pnonty Data A process and the apparatus for moistening a body of Feb. 18, I972 UI'lltBd Kingdom 7668/72 tobacco at least one elongated cavity the elongated wall of which is unsupported, by placing the U.S. A of tobacco in an enclosed chamber providing [51] Int. Cl. A24B 1/02 Suction and steam to the chamber one f which i Fleld 131/133 135, R, plied to at least one end of the cavity, and maintaining 131/140 R, 140 A the suction and steam until the body of tobacco has received a predetermined sufficient quantity of mois- References Clted ture from the steam.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,086,446 7/1937 Smith, Jr. et al. 131/133 x 23 4 Drawing F'gures U.S. Patent Nov 4, 1975 Sheet 1 of 3 3,916,915

SD N U.S. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 2 of3 3,916,915

U.S. Patent N0\-I.4, 1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,916,915

TOBACCO MOIS'IENING METHOD AND APPARATUS THEREFOR This invention relates to a process for the conditioning of tobacco, and apparatus for accomplishing the same.

Prior to the manufacture of cigarettes it is necessary to treat the tobacco by moistening to prevent breakage of the leaf. Similar processes are known in which probes are used to draw air and steam through the tobacco. However, it is found that the resistance to the flow of steam within a body of tobacco leaves is greatest at the juncture of the probe and the tobacco leaves contacting it. This resistance is aggravated by perforations in the probe. Also the perforations can become blocked by "scraps of tobacco and by compression of the tobacco by the probe in the vicinity thereof, further increasing resistance. The present invention avoids these disadvantages.

According to the present invention we provide a process for moistening a body of tobacco comprising the steps of placing the body of tobacco within an enclosed chamber, evacuating the chamber and introducing steam into the chamber while applying suction at least at one end of an elongated cavity formed in the body of tobacco, said tobacco being unsupported at the elongated surface of said cavity, until the tobacco has received a sufficient quantity of moisture.

Preferably the body of tobacco is cored prior to placing the body within the chamber.

A vacuum may be applied to the cored hole or holes simultaneously with or prior to the introduction of steam into the chamber.

Generally the method comprises forming the cavity in the body of tobacco by removing a core, sealing one end of the cored hole, connecting the other end to the vacuum pump and drawing steam through the body of tobacco via the cored hole.

The core can be removed from the body of tobacco whilst inside or outside the chamber by means of an open ended and sharp edged corer tubepressed into the tobacco and then withdrawn with the core, by means of a trapanning cutter or by inserting a core mould during packing, which is removed before processing.

The novel process can be carried out by the apparatus as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically illustrating an enclosed chamber in which a vacuum is applied at the bottom of an enclosed tobacco body in accordance with the present invention,v

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 in which a vacuum is applied at the top of an enclosed tobacco body,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view schematically illustrating a form of the novel apparatus designed to achieve a more continuous process, and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a modification of the apparatus of FIG. 3 and a coring station.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a body of tobacco 9 having a cored hole 10 rests on a flat trolley 11 placed in a closed chamber 12. The trolley 11 is provided with a central well 13 connectible with suction or a vacuum source (not shown) by conduit means or pipes 14, 15 and 16.

The lower end of the cored hole cavity 10 communicates with the well 13 which has the additional purpose of collecting tobacco scraps to prevent their entering the pipe 14. The upper end of the cored hole 10 is sealed by a heavy impervious blanket l7 laid on top of the body 9, the blanket being held in close contact by the vacuum applied to the core 10.

While a vacuum or suction is applied via pipes l4, l5 and 16 and well 13 steam is supplied to the chamber 12 via an inlet pipe 18. The chamber 12 is also provided with a valved pipe 19 which may be connected to a source of vacuum to at least partially evacuate the.

chamber 12 prior to supplying via the inlet pipe 18. The

valved pipe 19 may alternatively be connected to atmo-- sphere for venting the chamber 12 after the process has been completed.

In an alternate arrangement as shown in FIG. 2, a

body of tobacco 20 is placed on a flat trolley 21 having no aperture therein which is disposed in the chamber 12. The tobacco body 20 is provided with a core 22 the upper end of which is enclosed by a funnel-shaped housing 23 connected by conduit means or pipes 24 and 25 to a vacuum source (not shown). The housing 23 may have downwardly projecting spikes 26 serving to secure the funnel in position on the tobacco. An impervious ring-type blanket 27 provides a seal between the upper surface of the tobacco 20 and the housing 23. Steam enters the chamber through inlet pipe 28. The chamber 12, in this instance, also may be provided with the valved pipe 19, as shown.

FIG. 3 illustrates further modified apparatus designed to achieve a more continuous process. In this arrangement, a tobacco body 33 provided with a cored hole or elongated cavity 32 is disposed on ,a trolley 36 which, similar to the trolley 11, has an opening providing communication between the bottom of the opening 32 and a vacuum well 30 which, in this instance, is fixed. An impervious blanket 34, corresponding to blanket 17 of FIG. 1, closes the top of hole 32.

The chamber 35 is of a bell form which can be lifted for loading or unloading. An inlet pipe 31 is provided at the bottom of the chamber 35. The trolley 36 is run on a track 37 and can be moved to the chamber 35 from a coring station (not shown) where descends to effect a single or multiple coring of the tobacco 33. The chamber 35 also may be provided with a valved pipe 38, corresponding to the valved pipe 19 of chamber 12, as shown.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modification of the arrangement of FIG. 3 where the trolley 36 and track 37 are replaced by a conventional perforated conveyor belt 39 running over a plate or base 40. The belt 39, with or without chains, extends from a coring station 41 to a processing station 42 where a chamber 43 is lowered by any suitable and conventional elevator means, as diagrammatically shown over the belt in sealing engagement therewith at seals 44. The plate 40 is provided with an aperture 45 (or apertures) over which a body of tobacco 46 is conveyed by the belt 39 for alignment with a well (or leaf trap) 47 disposed below the level of the upper run of the conveyor belt 39 and communicating with vacuum equipment 48 via a pipe 51. Steam is fed to the chamber 43 by the inlet pipe 49 and an aperture 50. The vacuum equipment 48 may also be coupled by the pipe 51 and an aperture 52 in the plate 40 with the chamber 43. This connection of vacuum to the chamber 43 is provided with a control valve as indicated. The chamber 43 also may be provided with a valved pipe 59 for venting.

The coring station 41 diagrammatically illustrates a single or multiple coring head 53 arranged to be hydraulically mechanically or pneumatically driven in a vertical direction. Each head 53 carries open ended and sharp edged coring tube 54.

In the arrangement of FIG. 3 or in the modification thereof of FIG. 4, steam may be fed in or vacuum applied by flexible hoses (not shown) connected to the bell shaped chamber 35 or 43, respectively. It should be understood that the valved pipes 19, 38 and 59 may be provided pressure relief or limiting means to prevent excessive positive or negative pressures from building up in the chambers 12, 35 and 43, respectively.

The core of tobacco may be ejected from the corer into the trolley well in FIG. 1 or into a separate container within the chamber in FIGS. 2 and 3 where it is also conditioned.

An advantage of the elongated core hole is that resistance to the flow of steam is considerably reduced compared with the resistance caused by a probe as mentioned above, in which case the process time can possibly be reduced.

A further advantage is that a larger hole can be produced by coring without further compressing the tobacco which again reduces the resistance to flow.

In accordance with the present invention a typical bale of tobacco weighing 448 lbs. having a density of -25 lb/cu. ft. can be conditioned by means of the apparatus described above in the following manner:

The tobacco is first cored vertically through the bale and then placed on the trolley with the cored hole communicating with the vacuum source, as shown. After wheeling the trolley into the chamber the latter is closed by airtight doors (not shown) and a vacuum applied. After about 4-5 minutes when the pressure is down to about 27 inches of mercury, steam is let into the chamber while vacuum is maintained. After 6 minutes the steam is shut off and the chamber vented for a period of 2 minutes. A total conditioning time of about 12 minutes is achieved.

By providing further or multiple cored holes the process can be speeded up. The holes may be symmetrically arranged and can be connected to the vacuum source by making the well (FIGS. 1 and 3) suitably shaped to communicate with the bottom of the cored holes while still adequately supporting the tobacco or by having a sufficiently large funnel (FIG. 2) to embrace the upper. ends of the holes.

With multiple cores (2, 4 or 6) and by using larger vacuum equipment to reduce the pressure to 2 inches absolute in 1% minutes, the steam back time may be 3 minutes. The total conditioning, including one-half minute for venting, can be as little as 5 minutes.

In any of the apparatus for moistening tobacco as described above it is possible to reverse the direction of steam flow by suitable interchange of the steam inlet and vacuum pipes. The cored holes may be connected to the steam supply and to the chamber via valves, so that the cored holes can be isolated from the chamber during evacuation of the chamber or only when steam is admitted.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Various changes may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as the same will now be understood by those skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. A process for moistening a cored body of tobacco having an elongated cavity open at both ends and the elongated wall of which is unsupported, comprising the steps of:

coring the body of tobacco to provide the elongated cavity;

placing the body of tobacco within an enclosed chamber and closing one end of the elongated cavity; providing suction and steam to said chamber of which one is applied into the other end of the elongated cavity and the other is applied into the chamber outside of the body of tobacco; and

maintaining the suction and steam to said chamber until the body of tobacco has received a sufficient quantity of moisture from the steam.

2. The process in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of:

coring the body of tobacco to form the cavity before the body of tobacco is placed in the chamber.

3. The process in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing flow impervious means to one side of the body of tobacco thereby closing said one end of the cavity before providing suction and steam to said chamber.

4. The process in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the steps before placing the body of tobacco in the chamber of:

coring the body of tobacco to form the cavity therein;

and providing flow impervious means to one side of the body of tobacco thereby closing said one end of the cavity. 5. The process in accordance with claim 1, wherein, the steam is applied into the chamber around the body of tobacco, and the suction is applied into said other end of the cavity causing the steam to flow through the body of tobacco into the cavity from whence it is evacuated. 6. A process for moistening a cored body of tobacco having an elongated cavity open at both ends and the elongated wall of which us unsupported, comprising the steps of:

coring the body of tobacco to provide the elongated cavity; I

placing the body of tobacco within an enclosed chamber and closing one end of the elongated cavity; evacuating the chamber and introducing steam into the chamber while applying suction to the other end of the cavity until the body of tobacco has received a sufficient quantity of moisture. 7. The process in accordance with claim 6, further comprising the step of:

coring the body of tobacco thereby forming the elongated cavity before placing the body of tobacco into the chamber. 8. The process in accordance with claim 7, further comprising the step of:

removing the core during coring of the body of tobacco. 9. The process in accordance with claim 6, further comprising the step jot:

providing flow impervious means to one side of the body of tobacco thereby closing the end of the cavity opposite from the end to which suction is applied prior to applying such suction.

10. The process in accordance with claim 6, further comprising the steps before the body of tobacco is placed in the chamber, of:

coring said one body of tobacco thereby forming the elongated cavity; and

providing flow impervious means to one side of the body of tobacco thereby closing the end of the cavity opposite from the end to which suction is applied.

11. The process in accordance with claim 10, further comprising the step of:

removing the tobacco core during coring of the body of tobacco.

12. Apparatus for moistening a cored body of tobacco having an elongated cavity opei" at both ends and with its elongated wall unsupported comprising:

means for coring the body of tobacco to provide the cavity and for removing the core from the cavity; a chamber receiving and enclosing the body of tobacco and closing one end of the elongated cavity;

means for placing said body of tobacco into sid chamber and for supporting the body of tobacco with the cavity disposed vertically in said chamber;

conduit means for providing suction and steam to said chamber, one of said conduit means communicating with said chamber and the other of said conduit means communicating with the other end of the cavity in the body of tobacco; and

said conduit means including control means for maintaining flows therethrough until the body of tobacco has received a sufficient amount of moisture.

13. The apparatus in accordance with claim 12, further comprising:

flow impervious means provided at one side of the body of tobacco for closing said one end of the cavity opposite from the end of the cavity communicating with said other conduit means.

14. The apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein:

said support means includes a well which flow connects said other conduit means and said other end of the cavity at the bottom of the body of tobacco.

15. The apparatus in accordance with claim 15, further comprising:

a flow impervious blanket disposed over the top of the body of tobacco closing said one end of the cavity thereat. 16. The apparatus in accordance with claim 12, and said other conduit means including a funnel shaped member engaging the top of the body of tobacco and encircling the end of the cavity thereat.

17. The apparatus in accordance with claim 16, and

a flow impervious blanket disposed over the body of tobacco and encircling said funnel shaped member.

18. The apparatus in accordance with claim 17, and

said support means being a flat trolley closing the end of the cavity at the bottom of the body of tobacco.

19. The apparatus in accordance with claim 12, and

said chamber being a bell-type member which is raised to receive a body of tobacco and to remove a body of tobacco which has been moistened;

said other conduit means including a fixed well. said support means being a trolley movable into and out of said chamber; and

said trolley having an opening therethrough aligned with and flow connecting said fixed well and the end of the cavity at the bottom of the body of tobacco positioned in said chamber.

20. The apparatus in accordance with claim 19, further comprising:

a flow impervious blanket disposed over the top of the body .of tobacco closing the end of the cavity thereat.

21. The apparatus in accordance with claim 12, and

said support means being a fixed plate with a plurality of openings therethrough;

said conduit means each connected to a different one of said openings through said fixed plate;

said chamber being a bell-type member disposed on said plate;

means for raising and lowering said bell type member thereby permitting a body of tobacco to be moved into and out of said chamber; and

a perforated conveyor arranged to move bodies of tobacco to and from said chamber, each being positioned on said plate in said chamber with said other end of the cavity at the bottom of the body of tobacco in communication with the opening to which said other conduit means is connected.

22. The apparatus in accordance with claim 21, and

said conveyor being an endless belt.

23. The apparatus in accordance with claim 21, and

means for coring bodies of tobacco providing elongated cavities therein; and

said endless belt moving the cored bodies of tobacco from said coring means to said chamber.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3 3,916,915 DATED November 4, 1975 INVENTOR(5 1 Richard E.G. Neville and John A. Garrett It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 48, "15" second instance should read Bigncd and Sealed this.

twentieth Day of April1976 [SEAL] A lies I.

RUTH-C. M A SON C. MARSHALL DANN Allt'slmg Office ('mnmissimu'r uflalenls and Trademarks 

1. A process for moistening a cored body of tobacco having an elongated cavity open at both ends and the elongated wall of which is unsupported, comprising the steps of: coring the body of tobacco to provide the elongated cavity; placing the body of tobacco within an enclosed chamber and closing one end of the elongated cavity; providing suction and steam to said chamber of which one is applied into the other end of the elongated cavity and the other is applied into the chamber outside of the body of tobacco; and maintaining the suction and steam to said chamber until the body of tobacco has received a sufficient quantity of moisture from the steam.
 2. The process in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of: coring the body of tobacco to form the cavity before the body of tobacco is placed in the chamber.
 3. The process in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of: providing flow impervious means to one side of the body of tobacco thereby closing said one end of the cavity before providing suction and steam to said chamber.
 4. The process in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the steps before placing the body of tobacco in the chamber of: coring the body of tobacco to form the cavity therein; and providing flow impervious means to one side of the body of tobacco thereby closing said one end of the cavity.
 5. The process in accordance with claim 1, wherein, the steam is applied into the chamber around the body of tobacco, and the suction is applied into said other end of the cavity causing the steam to flow through the body of tobacco into the cavity from whence it is evacuated.
 6. A process for moistening a cored body of tobacco having an elongated cavity open at both ends and the elongated wall of which us unsupported, comprising the steps of: coring the body of tobacco to provide the elongated cavity; placing the body of tobacco within an enclosed chamber and closing one end of the elongated cavity; evacuating the chamber and introducing steam into the chamber while applying suction to the other end of the cavity until the body of tobacco has received a sufficient quantity of moisture.
 7. The process in accordance with claim 6, further comprising the step of: coring the body of tobacco thereby forming the elongated cavity before placing the body of tobacco into the chamber.
 8. The process in accordance with claim 7, further comprising the step of: removing the core during coring of the body of tobacco.
 9. The process in accordance with claim 6, further comprising the step of: providing flow impervious means to one side of the body of tobacco thereby closing the end of the cavity opposite from the end to which suction is applied prior to applying such suction.
 10. The process in accordance with claim 6, further comprising the steps before the body of tobacco is placed in the chamber, of: coring said one body of tobacco thereby forming the elongated cavity; and providing flow impervious means to one side of the body of tobacco thereby closing the end of the cavity opposite from the end to which suction is applied.
 11. The process in accordance with claim 10, further comprising the step of: removing the tobacco core during coring of the body of tobacco.
 12. Apparatus for moistening a cored body of tobacco having an elongated cavity open at both ends and with its elongated wall unsupported comprising: means for coring the body of tobacco to provide the cavity and for removing the core from the cavity; a chamber receiving and enclosing the body of tobacco and closing one end of the elongated cavity; means for placing said body of tobacco into sid chamber and for supporting the body of tobacco with the cavity disposed vertically in said chamber; conduit means for providing suction and steam to said chamber, one of said conduit means communicating with said chamber and the other of said conduit means communicating with the other end of the cavity in the body of tobacco; and said conduit means including control means for maintaining flows therethrough until the body of tobacco has received a sufficient amount of moisture.
 13. The apparatus in accordance with claim 12, further comprising: flow impervious means provided at one side of the body of tobacco for closing said one end of the cavity opposite from the end of the cavity communicating with said other conduit means.
 14. The apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein: said support means includes a well which flow connects said other conduit means and said other end of the cavity at the bottom of the body of tobacco.
 15. The apparatus in accordance with claim 15, further comprising: a flow impervious blanket disposed over the top of the bodY of tobacco closing said one end of the cavity thereat.
 16. The apparatus in accordance with claim 12, and said other conduit means including a funnel shaped member engaging the top of the body of tobacco and encircling the end of the cavity thereat.
 17. The apparatus in accordance with claim 16, and a flow impervious blanket disposed over the body of tobacco and encircling said funnel shaped member.
 18. The apparatus in accordance with claim 17, and said support means being a flat trolley closing the end of the cavity at the bottom of the body of tobacco.
 19. The apparatus in accordance with claim 12, and said chamber being a bell-type member which is raised to receive a body of tobacco and to remove a body of tobacco which has been moistened; said other conduit means including a fixed well. said support means being a trolley movable into and out of said chamber; and said trolley having an opening therethrough aligned with and flow connecting said fixed well and the end of the cavity at the bottom of the body of tobacco positioned in said chamber.
 20. The apparatus in accordance with claim 19, further comprising: a flow impervious blanket disposed over the top of the body of tobacco closing the end of the cavity thereat.
 21. The apparatus in accordance with claim 12, and said support means being a fixed plate with a plurality of openings therethrough; said conduit means each connected to a different one of said openings through said fixed plate; said chamber being a bell-type member disposed on said plate; means for raising and lowering said bell type member thereby permitting a body of tobacco to be moved into and out of said chamber; and a perforated conveyor arranged to move bodies of tobacco to and from said chamber, each being positioned on said plate in said chamber with said other end of the cavity at the bottom of the body of tobacco in communication with the opening to which said other conduit means is connected.
 22. The apparatus in accordance with claim 21, and said conveyor being an endless belt.
 23. The apparatus in accordance with claim 21, and means for coring bodies of tobacco providing elongated cavities therein; and said endless belt moving the cored bodies of tobacco from said coring means to said chamber. 